Transcript of Jesse Allen’s statement before the Central Planning Board on June 15, 1967 during one of the Medical School Blight Hearings. These public hearings were held to determine if areas in the Central Ward were “blighted” so that the lands could be taken by eminent domain for the construction of the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry. –Credit: Newark Public Library

Stenographic transcript of Louise Epperson’s statement to the Central Planning Board on June 13, 1967 during the “blight hearings.” These public hearings were held to determine if areas in the Central Ward were “blighted” so that the lands could be taken by eminent domain for the construction of the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry. — Credit:

Memo from civil rights activist Derek Winans to Junius Williams regarding the political impacts of the proposed site of the College of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark’s Central Ward. The displacement of residents and consequential disruption of African American electoral voting strength was a major concern of Newark’s civil rights activists in the 1960s. — Credit: Junius Williams Collection

A planning artist’s design of the proposed site of the College of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark’s Central Ward. The original plans for the school called for over 150 acres of urban renewal land that would have displaced approximately 20,000 Black and Puerto Rican residents of the Central Ward. — Credit: Junius Williams Collection

Statement prepared by Junius Williams, head of the Newark Area Planning Association (NAPA), explaining the political implications of the planned Route 75 construction on the 1970 mayoral election. Route 75, an eight lane highway planned to run North to South, would have cut the Central Ward in half and displaced thousands of Black and Puerto Rican residents, thereby eliminating them from the voting rolls of the Central Ward.

Flyer distributed by supporters of Dennis Westbrooks to promote his candidacy for Councilman of the Central Ward at the Black and Puerto Rican Convention. The Convention was held in Newark from November 14-16, 1969 to formally select the “Community’s Choice” for Mayor and City Council in the 1970 election.